| The future car, lets say a 2025 model will be | | | | Some manufacturers use a dynamic headrest in |
| a very different machine to its present day | | | | some high-spec models, these move forward |
| Grandfather. They will be packed with | | | | during a collision to stop the head snapping |
| computers and safety devices ensuring that | | | | back quite so far and reducing the chance of |
| not even a stunt driver can crash, and they | | | | spinal injury (whiplash. |
| will run on carbon dioxide and emit | | | | |
| strawberry scented oxygen. Well they might. | | | | It has been found that a vehicles bumper and |
| | | | frame height is a very important factor when |
| Predictions of future vehicles are usually | | | | it comes to safety during a collision, if a |
| wildly inaccurate, by now we should all have | | | | vehicle has bumper which is too high it can |
| space programs to rival NASA based out of our | | | | override the bumper of the other vehicle and |
| backyard. However some of the automobile | | | | plough directly into the passenger |
| related cutting edge technology emerging now | | | | compartment putting the occupants at severe |
| may well make it into production models of | | | | risk. Accidents like this usually occur when |
| the future. But how much of this technology | | | | a average size car collides with a truck or |
| will be needed or even wanted? Car design of | | | | SUV, this mismatch can be avoided by having |
| the present is already influenced by | | | | adjustable ride heights on the larger |
| politicians, bureaucrats, health and safety | | | | vehicles, when they are on a smooth road |
| regulations and emissions regulations and the | | | | lowering the vehicle to a suitable height |
| stunning concept seen at the motorshow | | | | would reduce the dangers normally associated |
| emerges into the world as a 1.0 litre | | | | with these sorts of collision, as a by |
| shopping cart, but at least its legal. | | | | product this would also reduce the top heavy |
| | | | nature of trucks and SUVs and rollover |
| Personally I like the idea of fuel efficient | | | | accidents could be avoided. |
| hybrid cars, and fuel cell cars emitting | | | | |
| nothing but water. However, like most | | | | Sensors will be increasingly responsible for |
| enthusiasts I also like powerful loud | | | | predicting and safeguarding against avoidable |
| convertibles with with the ability to snap a | | | | accidents. Sensors will monitor the road |
| vertabrae at 10 paces. A sensible mix | | | | surface scanning for black ice and hazardous |
| therefore is required and this will be the | | | | conditions, this information will then be |
| job entrusted to car designers and engineers | | | | displayed to the driver and the vehicle may |
| of the future, to make a politically correct | | | | take appropriate steps to improve traction |
| car that is also desirable. | | | | thus reducing the chance of an accident. The |
| | | | information gathered may also be relayed to a |
| Another immenent problem facing designers of | | | | central road monitoring network which can |
| the future is coming up with styling ideas | | | | inform other motorists of changing weather |
| that are fresh and new. Some of the more | | | | conditions, in effect every vehicle would |
| recent concepts are certainly striking but | | | | become a roving weather station. |
| not necessarily beautiful in the classic | | | | |
| sense of the word. But if there is one thing | | | | Sensors will also monitor the cars position |
| the automobile industry is good at that is | | | | on the road and if the vehicle is found to be |
| innovation, and I for one am confident that | | | | straying from the road or traffic lane an |
| radical and extreme concepts never before | | | | alarm would sound this feature is already |
| imagined will continue to appear at | | | | found on the Citroen C4 amongst others. |
| motorshows around the world. | | | | Sensors could also monitor the drivers |
| | | | well-being, imaging sensors would track eye |
| Computer technology has already taken a firm | | | | movement and if the eyes close for more than |
| hold of the automobile and the modern driver | | | | a few seconds an alarm would sound to alert |
| is less and less responsible for the actions | | | | the driver. Audi uses sensors on its new A6 |
| of their vehicle, soon crash victims will try | | | | which monitor for wet conditions, if found |
| to sue the electronics companies for | | | | the BOSCH brakes are applied intermittently |
| accidents they caused because their computer | | | | to wipe off the water and ensure good contact |
| system failed to brake the car even though | | | | when they are needed, the pressure applied in |
| they were fast asleep at the wheel on a three | | | | this process is so slight the driver does not |
| lane highway. Until you have automation of | | | | notice. Improved night vision and spatial |
| every single vehicle on every single road | | | | awareness would help cut down on night time |
| computer driven cars are just not feasible, | | | | crashes which account for half the road |
| in my mind there are just far too many | | | | related fatalities each year even though only |
| on-the-road variables, with all the logic in | | | | a quarter of all driving occurs at night. |
| the world you cannot beat a brain. Now | | | | Cadillac already includes infrared night |
| computer assisted driving is already | | | | vision as an option on some of its more |
| available in certain Mercedes models which | | | | desirable models, infrared vision does not |
| brake for you if your not looking where your | | | | see light it sees heat and the warmer an |
| going and your too close to the car in front, | | | | object is the more it stand out on the |
| but there is still a driver in control of the | | | | screen. The screen is a heads up display |
| car, or is there. What if for some reason you | | | | projected onto the windscreen infront of the |
| wanted to get closer to the car in front, you | | | | drivers line of sight allowing the driver to |
| needed to get closer to the car, if you | | | | see the real world and also the digital |
| didn't get closer to the car something | | | | projection. Honda has a similar system with |
| terrible would happen to civilization. Where | | | | the added ability to identify objects and |
| do you draw the line with vehicle automation? | | | | pick out pedestrians and digitally highlight |
| | | | those which are likely to step into the |
| In advanced cities of the future CCTV will be | | | | vehicles path and then emit an audible |
| so prevalent that visible crimes such as car | | | | warning. |
| theft are all but wiped out, but that still | | | | |
| won't stop the determined thief. GPS (Global | | | | New materials are constantly brought into the |
| Positioning System) units fitted as standard | | | | automotive field, in 2005 Chrysler Daimler |
| to all new automobiles will be able to track | | | | began using biological composite materials |
| any vehicle at anytime anywhere, this | | | | made from coconut, sisal, jute and other |
| technology is already common but more | | | | plants. This biological material is used |
| widespread use is inevitable. In the UK the | | | | mostly on the interior of the car and finds |
| government is already talking about fitting | | | | its way into seat cushions, seat backs, |
| GPS to charge motorists depending on what | | | | underfloor body panels and interior door |
| road they travel on and at what times to cut | | | | panels. One of the benefits of using these |
| spiraling congestion. This technology coupled | | | | biological compounds is that they can be |
| with an improved mobile phone and bluetooth | | | | recycled and reused and the manufacturing |
| network can be used to track and recover | | | | process involved is far more environmentally |
| stolen vehicles. When the vehicle is found to | | | | friendly than that of conventional synthetic |
| be stolen a call can be made which shuts down | | | | compounds. Ceramics first used in braking by |
| the engine of the car. At the same time a | | | | Porsche are becoming increasingly popular, |
| call is sent out which alerts available | | | | although still very expensive limiting them |
| nearby police, by using the GPS installed in | | | | to exclusive vehicles. The benefits of using |
| both the stolen car and the police car | | | | ceramics is their high tolerance to intense |
| officers can track the car even if they | | | | heat making them suitable for high |
| cannot see it. The police will also have much | | | | performance vehicles, and where the heavy use |
| more insight into a vehicles record when out | | | | of the brakes is needed regularly. Their |
| on patrol, using bluetooth technology a | | | | ability to perform under these extremes help |
| police car can tail a vehicle and receive | | | | reduce the brake fade associated with |
| information on the owner, the current driver | | | | exessive use and high temperatures. Materials |
| and their driving history, and even find out | | | | first such as carbon fibre and carbon kevlar |
| recent top speed and acceleration figures. Of | | | | first used on race cars and famed for their |
| course who wants that, you think you've just | | | | high strength and lightweight properties have |
| had a fun little blast on your favorite bit | | | | now filtered down to the production car |
| of road you get pulled over five miles later | | | | level, mainly in high-end vehicles but in due |
| and the officer gives you a speeding ticket | | | | time these composites will begin to appear in |
| for something he didn't see. But if this | | | | the average car, cutting weight and |
| technology is mandatory then what choice do | | | | increasing fuel economy whilst maintaining |
| you have. | | | | structural rigidity. |
| | | | |
| Access to future automobiles may be very | | | | In the future car designers will have to |
| different to the keys of today, push button | | | | explore new themes and find alternative |
| code entry and keycard systems where the key | | | | influences for their designs. In an effort to |
| doesn't even leave you pocket, already | | | | catch peoples eye the designs will have to be |
| available, will become common place. You hear | | | | increasingly bold and brash often sacrificing |
| the term keyless entry but it still uses a | | | | the aesthetic balance of the design in |
| remote control attached to a key which is | | | | attempt to be different in an increasingly |
| then used to start the car. Biometrics which | | | | 'done before' market. This is not to say all |
| are available on some computer systems and | | | | designs are going to be hideous, just some. |
| use fingerprinting as a password could be an | | | | Another influence to exterior design will be |
| effective alternative to the key, you could | | | | made by law as stricter pedestrian protection |
| even program it for members of your family | | | | laws are enforced requiring the front ends of |
| deciding between access only for the children | | | | cars to be 'softer', this thinking has |
| or access and drive functions for those with | | | | already been introduced on some models, |
| licenses. However I belive it will be some | | | | overall though it is difficult to project how |
| time before this is the only means of vehicle | | | | this will ultimately affect the face of car |
| entry or start up, what if you are lending | | | | design. With the increased use of alternative |
| your car to a friend and you cannot be | | | | fuel sources such as the hydrogen fuel cell |
| present to allow start up. | | | | and hydrogen combustion engine, vehicle |
| | | | bodies may begin reflect the green nature of |
| Multimedia systems will continue to develop | | | | their power. However I belive this to be a |
| in cars until the point where the "are we | | | | mistake. The Honda Insight Hybrid might have |
| there yet" phrase develops into "can we stay | | | | been more of a success had it not been |
| here". Manufacturers are continuing to cram | | | | utterly repulsive, people were already wary |
| more and more video screens into increasingly | | | | of its power source and to then make them |
| ingenious places providing a rolling | | | | vomit in disgust at its styling is just not |
| cinematic Dolby 7.0 surround sound | | | | intelligent. Why do all the eco-friendly cars |
| experience. DVDs are going to go the way of | | | | look like a 60's psychedelic nightmare, why |
| the VCR with hard disk recording of video | | | | can't they just look like a decent concept |
| being the dominant power much as MP3s are | | | | car with an alternative engine. Things seem |
| killing off CDs. This MP4 technology will | | | | to be improving however and BMW's H2R is an |
| save space in the car and allow for far more | | | | undeniably stunning vehicle if somewhat |
| footage to be kept on board. Improvements in | | | | impractical. And hybrid technology is finding |
| wireless Internet connections could mean that | | | | its way into mainstream prodution vehicles as |
| the larger roads can support Internet capable | | | | an optional power source. |
| vehicles and constantly inform the driver | | | | |
| with up to date relevant road information. A | | | | The interior of vehicles will also change, |
| screen in the dash can display live images to | | | | becoming more user friendly and personalised. |
| show traffic reports and also predict traffic | | | | Ergonomically positioned controls and lumbar |
| jams by using the GPS systems in all vehicles | | | | support seats with adjustable everything will |
| to show areas where vehicles have been | | | | come as standard to increase driver and |
| stopped or are congested, and then supply | | | | passenger comfort and reduce chronic pain and |
| alternate routes. The sound systems of cars | | | | discomfort. Customisable and personalised |
| will also improve and become more | | | | interior space will also become desirable |
| personalised for the various passengers, with | | | | features on the future automobile. Just as |
| headphone sockets and multiple sound outlets, | | | | you swap mobile phone covers an entire dash |
| there might be four different radio stations | | | | could be swapped to match your mood, if your |
| that can be played at once through the | | | | a little bigger than average why not fit an |
| different jacks, and a variety of MP3s that | | | | XXL seat in two easy steps, the possibilities |
| can be played at once. | | | | will be endless in order to cater for an |
| | | | increasingly demanding consumer. |
| Passenger safety is already a priority for | | | | |
| modern day car manufacturers and this will | | | | Alternative power sources for vehicles are |
| only increase in importance into the future. | | | | becoming ever more popular. Government |
| The widespread use of airbags will increase, | | | | incentives will eventually force all but the |
| the side impact protection airbags featured | | | | super rich into environmentally friendly |
| in some models have proved to be extremely | | | | cars, no problem, by then fuel cell cars will |
| effective in saving lives, more research and | | | | be just as rapid as their fossil fuel |
| better positioning will continue to improve | | | | counterparts but with none of the mess or |
| their performance and reliability. Airbags at | | | | stench. However it may take some convincing |
| the moment can only be deployed once so in a | | | | to get a 'petrol head' to put down his piston |
| multiple collision crash their effectiveness | | | | and pick up a proton exchange membrane |
| is voided after the first impact, future | | | | cathode, its just not the same is it. |
| airbag systems however may take this into | | | | Eventually common conventional fuel cars will |
| consideration and incorporate multiple single | | | | become classics and extremely sought after by |
| use airbags in one position or reusable | | | | collectors, but not for a long long time. |
| airbags which can be inflated several times. | | | | |